SA2LD76DLAGV45GD:

Loverlips,Believe Pat and her good advice to measure and write down EVERYTHING.  Your exercise may just be at maintenance mode at this time.  I invite you to join our 50's message board. It is very active.  If you are much younger, you may find kindred spirits on another board.  You might consider a personal trainer of 2-3 sessions to give you directions.  I think we have access to an exercise board with experts, try that for great advice.  Good luck. Nursecat/Carol

 Great suggestions, Carol!  I visit the 50's board occasionally to see if there are any special issues.  It's terrific!

And, yes, we do have a "Fitness Specialists" message board; and they are great.

Thanks for adding your comments.

Pat

 This is my second day on alli and I had no side effects on day 1 but I was not eating my 19 grams of fat and certainly not reaching my 1800 calories per day. 

Today I made sure to reach17 grams of fat for lunch at least and did experience some TE.  Does this mean I am eating too many grams of fat and should my program be lessened?  Thanks.

Welcome to alli.  It's a great Program and I'm sure you'll do well.  It you had some loose stools or an oily discharge that's perfectly normal.  It will subside within a week or so.

If it's more than that let me know, and we'll go from there.

Pat

 There is no way that i can eat 1800 calories without feeling gorged.  That is what is stated at my suggested calorie intake.  I am about 5'6" tall and weigh 194.  I never counted calories before...just points when i did weight watchers a couple years ago.  i do measure and weigh my food...I eat about 1200 to 1300 calories...have been doing this for about a year.  i exercise in a class about 4 days a week and try to walk one hour per day with walking poles at least 5 days a week.  I have lost 1 pound in the past three weeks.  I should also mention that i have a very low heart rate.  My resting heart rate is around 50.  My blood pressure was 90/60 when i visited my cardiologist this month.  i take a cholesterol lowering drug and was told by the cardiologist that i need more sodium in my diet to increase my heart rate.  Could my low heart rate be impacting my slow weight loss (causing a low calorie burn)?  Your initial questions during the on-line check in assume when asked if i met my fat and calorie goals that i have been over eating the fact is I probably have been eating less in calories...fat i am pretty close because i do have meat (generally fish or chicken) with every meal except breakfast.

Loverlips:

 There is no way that i can eat 1800 calories without feeling gorged.  That is what is stated at my suggested calorie intake.  I am about 5'6" tall and weigh 194.  I never counted calories before...just points when i did weight watchers a couple years ago.  i do measure and weigh my food...I eat about 1200 to 1300 calories...have been doing this for about a year.  i exercise in a class about 4 days a week and try to walk one hour per day with walking poles at least 5 days a week.  I have lost 1 pound in the past three weeks.  I should also mention that i have a very low heart rate.  My resting heart rate is around 50.  My blood pressure was 90/60 when i visited my cardiologist this month.  i take a cholesterol lowering drug and was told by the cardiologist that i need more sodium in my diet to increase my heart rate.  Could my low heart rate be impacting my slow weight loss (causing a low calorie burn)?  Your initial questions during the on-line check in assume when asked if i met my fat and calorie goals that i have been over eating the fact is I probably have been eating less in calories...fat i am pretty close because i do have meat (generally fish or chicken) with every meal except breakfast.

 

Unless there is an underlying metabolic (thyroid) problem that is causing low heart rate there is no connection between heart rate and weight.  Otherwise, all those people with high blood pressure that also have a high pulse rate would be quite slim.

If your under the care of a cardiologist I would assume that he/she would have already checked thyroid levels as the other blood lipids were checked.

Pat

Hello

I am a healthy eater - no fried foods, no red meat and no pork as my husband likes to say "semi-vegetarian" but I am having a hard time planning my meals and eating all that I should for the day. I would like to be able to make changes to the meal for example replace one thing for another and see it reflect in calorie chart. How important is it to follow the recipe and how do I track it when I do replace an item like blueberries for apples?

 There is another site on the internet that is more user friendly.  Sparkpeople.com

You can add and change foods easily.  check it out.

mysticldy:

Hello

I am a healthy eater - no fried foods, no red meat and no pork as my husband likes to say "semi-vegetarian" but I am having a hard time planning my meals and eating all that I should for the day. I would like to be able to make changes to the meal for example replace one thing for another and see it reflect in calorie chart. How important is it to follow the recipe and how do I track it when I do replace an item like blueberries for apples?

This is a good question and better to post as a new thread so you can get attention quickly.  You don't have to follow the alli Sample Menus -- what's most important is to have the recommended amount of calories and fat for your level.

Lots of people plan their own menus and many start by reviewing the Sample Menus to see how to distribute their calories and fat throughout the day.  When you do your weekly check-ins you can also "de-select" and of the menus items you don't eat -- to get something closer to your preferences.

The Nutrition Logs are good because they help you keep track of what you eat, and they are yours to use for life.  You can use the "define foods" icon at the bottom of the page to enter what you eat.

I hope this helps.  If you need anything else, let me know.  If you'd like to start a new thread put "Pat, please read" in the subject line and I'll be glad to reply.

Pat Baird, MA, RD, registered dietitian

 Thx Pat that helps.

mysticldy:

 Thx Pat that helps.

Great.  Happy Fourth!

Pat

 I too find it hard to reach my calorie goa.  I am at1800 calories with 19grams of fat per meal and I cannot reach any of my goals.  I am not motivated to exercise and I have only lost 10pounds but want to lose more.  How can I reach my goal and get motivated to exercise working 6days a week?

shortandsexy:

 I too find it hard to reach my calorie goa.  I am at1800 calories with 19grams of fat per meal and I cannot reach any of my goals.  I am not motivated to exercise and I have only lost 10pounds but want to lose more.  How can I reach my goal and get motivated to exercise working 6days a week?

Congrats on the 10 pounds!  That's a nice accomplishment.  It sounds like you're planning your own menus -- which is fine. I suggest you read through the Sample Menus for your level to get some ideas of how to add fat and calories to what your eating now.

Plan exercise into your schedule as you would with any other appointment.  Choose something you enjoy - walking with some jazzy music, dancing, etc. - so you can get yourself into a routine.  It will get easier once you're on track.

I hope this helps.  Please let me know if you need anything else.

So it's not good if I'm suppose to be having 1800 calories but have myself 900-1000 a day?

That will actually stop weight loss totally.  I urge you to got to the top of this thread and read the first 5 or so posts.  There's no reason to take alli when fat intake is that low because there's little or nothing to block.  And whenever calories get around 1,000 or below the body perceives it as "starvation" and holds onto weight.

You'll find the top posts very informative.  Please let me know if you need anything else after reading them.

Pat

 Can you please discuss the pros/cons of eating below your calorie/fat limit.  I am on 1600/54grm.  and I am having a hard time reaching them (funny that was not the case only a few short months ago!).  I have lost 12 lbs. in seven weeks, but this week was barely 1 lb.  Is that normal or should I be making every effort to reach my 1600?  I have been  averaging 1300/33.